Condensation removing means for refrigerated cabinets



Aug. 26, P. L RE|D ET L CONDENSATION REMOVING MEANS FOR REFRIGERATED CABINETS Filed Dec. 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./

Fig. 5

Philip L Reid William E. Ka/las Claude A. Wilson INVENTORS BY I m Aug.26,1969 6mm ETAL 3,462,966

CONDENSATION REMOVING MEANS FOR REFRIGERATED CABINETS Filed Dec, 1967 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Philip L.Re/'d William E. Ka/las Claude A. Wilson INVENTORS n WW E Aug. 26, 1969 P. L. REID ET AL 3,462,966

CONDENSAIION REMOVING MEANS FOR REFRIGERATED CABINETS Filed Dec. 5, 1967 I5 SheetsSheet 3 Fig. 3

Philip L. Reid William E Ka/las Claude A. Wilson IN 1 1m MR6 Mw... WM, liM

United States Patent 3,462,966 CONDENSATION REMOVING MEANS FOR REFRIGERATED CABINETS Philip L. Reid, Spartanburg, S.C., William E. Kallas, Punxsutawney, Pa., and Claude A. Wilson, Spartanburg,

C., assignors to Beverage-Air Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 5, 1967, Ser. No. 688,065 Int. Cl. A47f 3/04; E06b 7/12, 7/28 US. Cl. 62--248 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A refrigerated cabinet is provided with facilities for establishing an air curtain in front of its opening to prevent condensation on its glass door panels when closed and entry of warm air into the refrigerated space when opened. Condensate collected within a pan is also evaporated by the flow of air from which the air curtain is established to eliminate the need for any condensate drain.

This invention relates to the control of moisture in connection with refrigerated cabinets and more particularly to a refrigerated cabinet modified so as to prevent fogging of its glass door panels and accommodate defrosting by removal of condensate without any drainage facilities.

Refrigerated enclosures having glass panels through which merchandse may be displayed, will sometimes accumulate condensation on the glass panels. This moisture must be removed in order to maintain visibility through the glass panels. The establishment of a flow of warm air over the glass panels, is a well known solution to this problem. The condensation removing airflow has been established either by directing heated air from a blower or from the discharge side of the condenser unit associated with the refrigerating equipment. Flow diverting conduits, flues and duct-work must acordingly be provided which has required expensive modification of the refrigerated cabinet and has complicated removal of the refrigerating unit for repair purposes.

An important object of the present invention therefore is to provide facilities for removing condensation from glass panels of refrigerated cabinets with a minimum amount of cabinet modification and without seriously complicating disassembly and removal of the refrigerating unit for repair purposes. Furthermore, the arrangement of the present invention will supply heated air more efficiently to the access opening of the refrigerated space to not only remove condensation from the glass panels closing the refrigerated space but to also establish a fluid barrier that will reduce heat exchange by convection between the refrigerated space and atmosphere when the closure panels are opened. In addition to the foregoing objectives, the arrangement of the present invention will remove condensate, collected from the condenser unit and drained from the refrigerated space, by evaporation.

In accordance with the present invention, horizontal airflow induced through a non-refrigerated space of the cabinet is partially diverted by means of a removable scoop device into a laterally extending ductwork positioned immediately adjacent to the frame portions of the refrigerator cabinet closure panels. Heated air is accordingly distributed and discharged in a vertical direction for establishment of the air curtain aforementioned over the surface of the glass panels and on both sides of the panel frames. The closure panels are mounted on the front edge portions of the cabinet walls externally of' the cabinet so that the panel frames are not directly exposed 3,462,966 Patented Aug. 26, 1969 ice to the cold zone of the refrigerated space and extend substantially to the non-refrigerated space overlapping the partition wall which separtes the refrigerated space from the nonrefrigerated space. Some of the airflow incluced through the non-refrigerated space is also directed into a condensate collecting pan so that it may evaporate any condensate deposited therein.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a typical refrigerated cabinet embodying the facilities associated with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 22 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 33 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 44 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a partial front elevational view of the lower portion of the refrigerated cabinet with the front grill removed.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 6-6 in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing the disassembled front grill.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing the disassembled air scoop device associated with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGURE 1 illustrates a refrigerated cabinet generally referred to by reference numeral 10 which incorporates the features of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet 10 is of the vertically upright type having a pair of closure panels 12 hingedly mounted on the front edge portions 14 of the cabinet walls so as to close a refrigerated space. Warm air is discharged from the lower portion of the cabinet through a front grill generally referred to by reference numeral 16 which extends horizontally across the front of the cabinet and is removably mounted thereon. The front grill in addition to forwardly discharging warm air as indicated by arrows 18, also vertically discharges in an upward direction, a diverted portion of the warm airflow as indicated by the arrows 20 in order to form a warm air curtain in front of the access opening closed by the door panels 12.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, it will be observed that the cabinet is formed by interconnected, insulated side walls 22 and back wall 24 to enclose a refrigerated space 26 above an insulated, bottom partition wall 28 which separates the refrigerated space from the nonrefrigerated space 30. Each of the door panels 12 is provided with a peripheral, tubular frame 32 which mounts a pair of glass panels 34. The door panel assemblies 12 as hereinbefore indicated are hingedly mounted on the forward edge portions 14 of the side walls 22 by means of conventional hinges (not shown) connected to the panel frames 32. A peripheral sealing element 36 is mounted on the tubular frame 32 of each door panel assembly for contact with the foreward edge portions of the side walls 22, partition wall 28 and the top wall as well as a plastic breaker 38 secured to a center post assembly 40 fixedly mounted within the refrigerated space 26 adjacent to the front access opening. The access opening is formed in a plane indicated by reference numeral 42 in FIGS. 3 and 4 with which the front edge portions 14 of the cabinet walls are alined. Magnetic strips 37 within the sealing element 36 cooperating with magnetic inserts 39 in the plastic breaker 38 hold the door panels closed. It will be apparent therefore, that the door panel assemblies 12 are disposed externally of :the cabinet rather than being recessed in the edge portions of the cabinet walls as in prior constructions. Because of this arrangement the frames 32 of the door panels are not directly exposed to the cold zone of the refrigerated space 26. The door panels also extend downwardly beyond the refrigerated space 26 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 2 overlapping the front edge portion of the partition Wall 28, terminating in close spaced relation to the sealing strip 44 mounted on the top of the projecting portion 46 of the partition wall 28. Thus, the air rising from the front grill 16 immediately contacts the tubular frames 32 of the door panel assemblies with little heat loss flowing upwardly in front of the outside of the frames 32 and the glass panels 34 as well as on the inside of the frames at the forward edge portions 14 and between the door panel assemblies. When the door panel assemblies are opened by means of the handles 48 secured to the frames adjacent the center post 40, the upward airflow will form an air curtain or barrier between the atmosphere and the refrigerated space 26, this air curtain being more effective in defogging the door panels because of the panel mounting externally of the cabinet.

As more clearly seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, a pair of fluorescent lamp tubes 50 are mounted just behind the center post assembly 40 by lamp sockets 52 fixedly secured to the center post assembly. The lamp tubes will accordingly provide illumination for the refrigerated space and the heat therefrom will help prevent condensation on the lamp tubes and the outer surfaces of the center post assembly.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 in particular, it will be observed that a condenser coil assembly 54 is mounted within the non-refrigerated space 30 together with a blower including the fan 56 and motor 58 fixedly supported within the non-refrigerated space rearwardly of the condenser coil assembly by means of the bracket 60. Thus, the condenser coil assembly and blower form part of the refrigerating equipment mounted within the nonrefrigerated space 30 through which an airflow is induced upon rotation of the fan 56 drawing air inwardly through the opening 62 at the rear of the refrigerator cabinet. The airflow so induced passes between the coils of the condenser coil assembly 54 for heat exchange purposes resulting in the discharge of heated air through the front grill 16. The fan and condenser coil assembly are mounted on top of a duct 64 secured to the bottom wall 66 in enclosing relation to a removable drain pan 68 within which condensate may collect. An opening 70 is formed in the duct 64 below the fan 56 so that some of the air will be discharged by the fan into the duct 64 causing evaporation of any condensate collected within the pan 68. Condensate may be brought to the condensate collecting pan 68 from the refrigerated space by means of the tube 72, the lower discharge end of which is removably held in position by the clip 74 secured to the bracket 76.

Centrally mounted within the non-refrigerated space 30 at the forward end is an air scoop device 78. The scoop device is provided with a dimensionally enlarged inlet end alined with the condenser coil assembly 54 and in close adjacency thereto as more clearly seen in FIGURE 2. The scoop device converges forwardly from its inlet end to an outlet end 82 positioned just below the forward edge portion of the partition wall 28. The scoop device is provided with a pair of sealing flanges 84 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 8. Sealing strips 86 are adhesively secured to the flanges for abutment with the underside of the partition wall 28 to which the scoop device is removably secured by a pair of bolts 88 extending through the slots 90 formed in the mounting element 92 which bridges the flanges 84. Wing nuts 94 hold the scoop device 78 assembled on the underside of the partition wall 28 through the bolts 88. Thus, a portion of the heated air which passes through the condenser coil assembly 54 will be diverted through the scoop device '78 into the upper deflecting portion 96 of the front grill just below the projecting portion 46 of the partition wall 28. The heated air will also flow laterally from the scoop device along the duct forming members 98 that are fastened to the underside of the partition wall 28 by spaced fasteners 100 on either side of the removable scoop device 78 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 5 and 6.

The front grill 16 includes a frame portion 102 which mounts the grillwork 104 below the forwardly extending, air deflecting portion 96 aforementioned. Mounting tabs 106 as shown in FIGURES 2 and 7 are secured to the sides of the frame portion 102 and are received beneath the holding clips 108 secured to the edge portions 14 of the side walls. Additional holding clips 110 may yieldably hold the lower portion of the frame 102 on the cabinet as shown in FIGURE 2. Thus, when the front grill 16 is mounted on the cabinet the upper edge 112 of the deflecting portion 96 will be closely spaced from the projecting portion 46 of the partition wall 28 to form a horizontally elongated outlet opening through which a vertical upflow of heated air is discharged. The deflecting portion 96 of the grillwork cooperates with the scoop device 78 and the duct forming members 98 to laterally distribute the air flowing upwardly from the opening and is sealed to both the scoop device 78 and the duct forming members 98 by an elongated sealing strip 114 when the front grillwork is mounted in position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description, that the front grillwork 16 when removed will also permit removal of the air scoop device 78 exposing the refrigerating equipment within the non-refrigerated space 30 so that it may be readily removed for repair or maintenance purposes. The scoop device in its readily removable position will also more efficiently and directly conduct a diverted portion of the heated air to the door panel assemblies because of their mounting externally of the refrigerated cabinet and extension downwardly in overlapping spaced relationship to the partition wall 28. While the arrangement illustrated and hereinbefore described shows the mounting of the refrigerating equipment within the lower portion of the refrigerator cabinet, it should be appreciated that it may be mounted on top of the cabinet and a diverted portion of the airflow through the condenser coil assembly conducted vertically downwardly utilizing the same principles as hereinbefore described. As another alternative, a separate heater and blower may be mounted below the refrigerated space for establishing the warm air curtain in order to also eflect evaporation of condensate from the condensate collecting pan.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled 1n the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with an insulated cabinet having a partition wall and enclosing refrigerated and non-refrigerated spaces separated by said partition wall, said partition wall having a forward edge portion substantially in a plane with an access opening to the refrigerated space, means for inducing flow of heated air from the nonrefrigerated space, closure means mounted on the cabinet externally of said refrigerated space for closing said access opening to the refrigerated space said closure means extending beyond the refrigerated space overlapping the forward edge portion of the partition wall externally of the cabinet, and flow diverting means mounted on the partition wall within the non-refrigerated space for directing said heated air upwardly from the forward edge portion of the partition wall about the closure means.

2. The combination of claim 1 including condensate collecting means mounted within the non-refrigerated space, and means for conducting a flow of air induced by said flow inducing means through the collecting means to evaporate condensate.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said flow diverting means includes a scoop device aligned with the flow inducing means having an outlet vertically spaced below the access opening discharging said heated air adjacent the closure means, and duct forming means mounted laterally of the scoop device for distributing the dsicharged air horizontally along the closure means.

4. The combination of claim 3 including a front grill closing the non-refrigerated space at a location from which the heated air is discharged, said grill having a deflecting portion cooperating with the scoop device and the duct forming means to direct said heated air vertically.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said flow inducing means includes a condenser coil assembly mounted in close adjacency to the flow diverting means and a blower mounted rearwardly of the condenser coil assembly above the condensate collecting means.

6. In combination with an insulated cabinet having a partition wall and enclosing refrigerated and non-refrigerated spaces separated by said partition wall, means for inducing flow of heated air from the non-refrigerated space, closure means mounted on the cabinet for closing an access opening to the refrigerated space, said closure means extending beyond the refrigerated space substantially to the non-refrigerated space overlapping the partition wall externally of the cabinet, and flow diverting means mounted on the partition wall within the nonrefrigerated space for directing a portion of said heated air about the closure means, condensate collecting means mounted within the non-refrigerated space, and means for conducting a flow of air induced by said flow inducing means through the collecting means to evaporate condensate, said flow diverting means including a removable scoop device aligned with the flow inducing means for discharging said heated air adjacent the closure means, and duct forming means mounted laterally of the scoop device for distributing the discharged air along the closure means, a front grill closing the non-refrigerated space at a location from which the heated air is discharged, said grill having a deflecting portion cooperating with the scoop device and the duct forming means to direct said heated air vertically, said flow inducing means includng a condenser coil assembly mounted in close adjacency to the flow diverting means and a blower mounted rearwardly of the condenser coil assembly above the condensate collecting means, said cabinet being formed by walls having edge portions aligned in a vertical plane in which said access opening is formed, said closure means comprising panels hinged on said edge portions and disposed externally of the cabinet.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein each of said panels includes a frame and sealing means mounted on the frame for contact with said edge portions, a center post fixed to the cabinet within the refrigerated space and engageable by the sealing means and lamp means mounted rearwardly of the center post closely adjacent to the access opening.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said flow diverting means includes a scoop device aligned with the flow inducing means having an outlet vertically spaced below the access opening discharging said heated air adjacent the closure means, and duct forming means mounted laterally of the scoop device for distributing the discharged air horizontally along the closure means.

9. The combination of claim 8 including a front grill closing the non-refrigerated space at a location from which the heated air is discharged, said grill having a deflecting portion cooperating with the scoop device and the duct forming means to direct said heated air vertically.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said flow inducing means includes a condenser coil assembly mounted in close adjacency to the flow diverting means and a blower mounted rearwardly of the condenser coil assembly above the condensate collecting means.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cabinet is formed by Walls having edge portions aligned in a vertical plane in which said access opening is formed, said closure means comprising panels hinged on said edge portions and disposed externally of the cabinet.

12. In combination with an insulated cabinet having a partition wall and enclosing refrigerated and non-refrigerated spaces separated by said partition wall, means for inducing fiow of heated air from the non-refrigerated space closure means mounted on the cabinet for closing an access opening to the refrigerated space, said closure means extending beyond the refrigerated space substantially to the non-refrigerated space overlapping the partition wall externally of the cabinet, and flow diverting means mounted on the partition wall within the nonrefrigerated space for directing a portion of said heated air about the closure means, said cabinet being formed by walls having edge portions aligned in a vertical plane in which said access opening is formed, said closure means comprising panels hinged on said edge portions and disposed externally of the cabinet, each of said panels including a frame and sealing means mounted on the frame for contact with said edge portions, a center post fixed to the cabinet within the refrigerated space and engageable by the sealing means and lamp means mounted rearwardly of the center post closely adjacent to the access opening.

13. In combination with an insulated cabinet having a partition wall and enclosing refrigerated and non-refrigerated spaces separated by said partition wall, means for inducing flow of heated air from the non-refrigerated space, closure means mounted on the cabinet for closing an access opening to the refrigerated space, condensate collecting means mounted within the non-refrigerated space and flow diverting means for directing said fiow of heated air across the access opening and through the condensate collecting means.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said flow inducing means includes a condenser coil assembly mounted in close adjacency to the flow diverting means and a blower mounted rearwardly of the condenser coil assembly above the condensate collecting means.

15. The combination of claim 13 wherein said flow diverting means includes a scoop device aligned with the flow inducing means for discharging said heated air adjacent the closure means vertically spaced below the access opening, duct forming means mounted laterally of the scoop device for distributing the discharged air along the closure means, and a front grill closing the non-refrigerated space at a location from which the heated air is discharged, said grill having a deflecting portion cooperating with the scoop device and the duct forming means to direct said heated air vertically.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,673,455 3/1954 Brinketer 62-248 2,706,387 4/1955 Swanson 62-248 3,025,681 3/ 1962 Booth 62248 3,307,373 3/ 1967 Booth 62-248 WILLIAM J. WYE, Primary Examiner U.S.Cl. X.R. 

